Buttonhole opener

ABSTRACT

A buttonhole opener for button sewing machines, using air operation to automatically open a buttonhole in a garment to which a button is to be attached and thereby eliminate the necessity of pulling back of a garment pocket and the like prior to tacking on of the button. A series of valves and air cylinders in operation automatically actuate the opener to open the buttonhole when the button sewing machine is operated through a series of air switches.

United States Patent [191 Wilkie 11 3,73,71 1 May 29, 1973 [52] US. Cl. .I ..112/110, 112/114 [51] Int. Cl. ..D05b 3/14 [58] Field of Search ..112/110, 114, 104,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 822,551 6/1906 Powell... ..112/110 3,440,984 4/1969 Hofe ..112/110 Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Att0mey-David H. Semmes [5 7] ABSTRACT A buttonhole opener for button sewing machines, using air operation to automatically open a buttonhole in a garment to which a button is to be attached and thereby eliminate the necessity of pulling back of a garment pocket and the like prior to tacking on of the button. A series of valves and air cylinders in operation automatically actuate the opener to open the buttonhole when the button sewing machine is operated through a series of air switches.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures AIR INTAKE 783,073 2/1905 Quist ...112/110 3,425,372 2/1969 Gobhaietal ..112/114 r I 13 i 52 48 TO SEWING so MACHINENEEDLE O on H STARTER NR 0000 ii Pg INTAKE I 56 e2 58 7o PATENTEL 75 3735,? 16

SHEET 2 OF 2 BUTTONHOLE OPENER BACKGROUND ,OF THE INVENTION A need exists for buttonhole openers, primarily for use in the garment industry, which will permit a button, such as a hip pocket button, to be attached by a button sewing machine without the necessity of pulling back of a garment hip pocket and the like prior to tacking on of the button. Heretofore such apparatus has been known but for the most part has been complicated in structure and required intricate mechanism for operation.

The present invention is primarily directed to a buttonhole opener which-utilizes air operation and which is highly efiicient in operation and embodies extreme simplicity in construction and operation as distinguished from known prior apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is for a buttonhole opener adapted for use with button sewing machines for attaching buttons to garments such as hip pocket buttons with the apparatus being air operated and automatically controlled by operation of a button sewing machine. Operation of a buttonhole spreader attached to the presser foot of the button sewing machine is controlled automatically through a series of valves air cylinders incorporated in an air actuated circuit, and a plurality of air switches serve to automatically control the button sewing machine when button sewing is completed.

Additional and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the present invention as attached to a button sewing machine shown in sufficient detail only for orientation and operation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary elevational view of the buttonhole opener spreader means as viewed along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the buttonhole spreader means and a button holder mechanism which constitutes a portion of the machine presser foot and showing the spreader in buttonhole spreading position;

FIG. 5 is a vertical detailed sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the button holder and buttonhole spreader components.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, only that portion of the buttonhole sewing machine necessary for orientation and placement of the present invention is shown. This includes the base or stand 10 on which the machine is mounted and includes a pedestal 12 which serves as a support for the material and for passage of the sewing needle in a usual fashion. The relationship will be more readily understood from FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings wherein the cloth to which the button is to be attached is shown at 14 and a portion of the garment indicated at 16 which also consists of cloth is superimposed above cloth 14. The preformed and stitched buttonhole is generally indicated at 18 with the stitching or welt shown at 20, all as known in the art. A usual presser foot 22 includes a button holder 24 operatively engaging and holding button 26' in a usual manner. The presser foot and its association with the sewing machine is shown in FIG. 1 wherein the presser foot-is shown in a raised position. The sewing needle is shown in FIG. 5 at 28 which coacts with the button and thread in a known manner.

The buttonhole spreader 3% which constitutes the present invention includes arms 32 and 34 respectively having portions flush with and pivotally mounted at 36- and 38 to presser foot 22. Each spreader arm is pro vided with, at its free end spaced from the pivotpoint thereof, a downwardly depending foot shown at 40, 42 for engaging in and coacting with the edges of the buttonhole for spreading the same in accordance with the operational cycle of the device. The opposite ends of the arms are pivotally attached to screw eye shanks 44 of standard tension turnbuckles The opposite ends of the turnbuckles are connected by screw eye shanks or rods through pivotal connections 50 to air cylinders 52 and 54 respectively as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connection being to the operating rods thereof which are operable to extended and retracted positions by the air operated circuit as will be described hereinafter. In operation the arms and the depending feet 40, 42 are operable and move from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 and in full lines in FIG. 3 to the buttonhole open position shown in broken lines in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4.

The air cylinders 52, 54 are mounted on base 10 by means of air cylinder brackets 56. An air switch 58 is mounted by means of bracket 56 and is operably engageable by a contact arm 60 or activator bar connected to the rod of air cylinder 52 for movement thereby and engagement with actuating button 62 of air switch 58.

An activator bar 64 to control the spreader arms is afiixed to the presser foot as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and operationally is raised or lowered with movement of the presser foot. The oppositely extending arms 64A, 13 of the activator bar are efi'ectively engageable with air switches 66 and 68 connected in the circuit and supported by means of air stands 70 to lugs on the machine. The switches 66 and 68 are in the nature of three-way air switches and fittings for appropriate interconnection in air circuit, with and to the air cylinders 52 and 54. The air circuit is schematically indicated by broken lines and arrows indicating flow paths as generally indicated at 72.

In operation, the button 26 is inserted in button holder 24 of the presser foot 22 by the operator. The buttonhole 18 on the garment is placed in position under the presser foot by a skilled operator. The machine is then started by a finger trip switch, not shown. The machine, following actuation and sewing'of the button, stops automatically upon completion of the button sewing step. When the machine stops the thread is snipped automatically and the garment is removed by the operator. When the presser foot is pressed downward by activating the finger trip switch automatically, activator bar 64 activates air switch 66 and in turn activates both air cylinders 52, 5 to open position. In turn the spreader foot 30 operates to open the buttonhole, the position of the arms in opening being shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. Meanwhile, when air cylinder 52 is activated to open position, the safety switch activator bar so activates air switch d to start the sewing machine.

When the button is completely sewed on, the machine automatically stops and the presser foot automatically is raised. When the presser foot is up, the activator bar 6 automatically releases air switch so and accivates air switch es which closes the air cylinders and releases the spreader foot or returns the arms 32, 341 to the closed position shown in W63. 3 and 6 resulting in a closing of the buttonhole pocket or other garments on which used. Meanwhile, when air cylinder 52 is closed, activator bar 6% acting as a safety switch activator bar releases air switch which thereby acts as a safety switch and stops the sewing machine and work is removed by the operator. The air flow for cycling f the machine is shown by the broken line schematic diagram 72.

Manifestly, minor changes in details can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A buttonhole opener in association with a button sewing machine having a vertically movable presser foot, a button holder and sewing needle mechanism, comprising:

A. a buttonhole spreader including:

i. a pair of arms pivotally mounted on and below said presser foot and vertically movable therewith; and

ii. buttonhole opening means on said arms adapted to be jointly inserted in a preformed buttonhole upon downward movement of said presser foot and to therein engage opposed sides of said hole;

13. fluid operan'ng means for pivoting said arms from a closed buttonhole insertion position to a spread position to open said huttonhole through engagement by said opening means to permit sewing of a button to material beneath said buttonhole; and

C. fluid switch means operable upon downward and upward movement respectively of said presser foot to activate said arm pivoting means in synchroni2a tion therewith, for selectively opening the button-- hole and subsequently releasing said buttonhole for closing.

2. A huttonhole opener as claimed in. claim 1, said buttonhole opening means on said comprising il downwardly depending spreader feet on the free end of each said arm.

3. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 12, said arms having portions spaced from the free ends thereof pivotally mounted to and flush with the under side of said presser foot.

is A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 2, said fluid operating means comprising an air circuit operably asmciated with said sewing machine for operation thereof md the fluid operating means for pivoting said arms including an air cylinder for each said arm with the rod thereof pivotally connected to ends of said arms opposite to said free ends having said depending feet, an activator bar attached to said presser foot for vertical movement therewith, said switch means being in said circuit and engageable by said activator bar upon downward movement to move said arms to buttonhole opening position and upon upward movement to move said arms to retracted position.

5. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim l, including a safety switch in said air circuit, a safety switch activator bar mounted to a rod of one said cylinder, said safety switch being engageable by said safety switch activator bar upon extension of said rod for the buttonhole opener position of said arms to initiate sewing operation of said sewing machine and subsequent to the sewing operation and retraction of said arms serving to stop operation of the sewing machine.

6. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 5, wherein said switch means comprise an cylinder operating switches having actuating positions oppositely disposed for engagement respectively by opposed reverse surfaces of said activator bar on said presser foot for initiation of extension and re traction of the rods of said air cylinders for opening and closing positions of said spreader feet.

7. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 6, including standard tension adjustable turnbuckles interconnecting the rods of said cylinders and attached ends of said arms, said turnbuckles serving to adjust positioning said spreader feet with respect to one another and to said buttonhole to be opened.

means 

1. A buttonhole opener in association with a button sewing machine having a vertically movable presser foot, a button holder and sewing needle mechanism, comprising: A. a buttonhole spreader including: i. a pair of arms pivotally mounted on and below said presser foot and vertically movable therewith; and ii. buttonhole opening means on said arms adapted to be jointly inserted in a preformed buttonhole upon downward movement of said presser foot and to therein engage opposed sides of said hole; B. fluid operating means for pivoting said arms from a closed buttonhole insertion position to a spread position to open said buttonhole through engagement by said opening means to permit sewing of a button to material beneath said buttonhole; and C. fluid switch means operable upon downward and upward movement respectively of said presser foot to activate said arm pivoting means in synchronization therewith, for selectively opening the buttonhole and subsequently releasing said buttonhole for closing.
 2. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 1, said buttonhole opening means on said arms comprising downwardly depending spreader feet on the free end of each said arm.
 3. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 2, said arms having portions spaced from the free ends thereof pivotally mounted to and flush with the under side of said presser foot.
 4. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 2, said fluid operating means comprising an air circuit operably associated with said sewing machine for operation thereof and the fluid operating means for pivoting said arms including an air cylinder for each said arm with the rod thereof pivotally connected to ends of said arms opposite to said free ends having said depending feet, an activator bar attached to said presser foot for vertical movement therewith, said switch means being in said circuit and engageable by said activator bar upon downward movement to move said arms to buttonhole opening position and upon upward movement to move said arms to retracted position.
 5. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 4, including a safety switch in said air circuit, a safety switch activator bar mounted to a rod of one said cylinder, said safety switch being engageable by said safety switch activator bar upon extension of said rod for the buttonhole opener position of said arms to initiate sewing operation of said sewing machine and subsequent to the sewing operation and retraction of said arms serving to stop operation of the sewing machine.
 6. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 5, wherein said switch means comprise air cylinder operating switches having actuating positions oppositely disposed for engagement respectively by opposed reverse surfaces of said activator bar on said presser foot for initiation of extension and retraction of the rods of said air cylinders for opening and closing positions of said spreader feet.
 7. A buttonhole opener as claimed in claim 6, including standard tension adjustable turnbuckles interconnecting the rods of said cylinders and attached ends of said arms, said turnbuckles serving to adjust positioning of said spreader feet with respect to one another and to said buttonhole to be opened. 